Build Your Prescription for Success
The Pharmacy Technician Pathway at San Jacinto College prepares students for rewarding careers in the fast-paced world of pharmacy and patient care. Through hands-on lab instruction and clinical experience in community and hospital settings, students learn to prepare and distribute medications, maintain patient records, manage inventory, and support licensed pharmacists in daily operations. Each level provides stronger technical, clinical, and leadership skills—building a clear route to certification, career advancement, and long-term success in the health care industry.
Career Opportunities and Income
Visit sanjac.edu for information regarding career opportunities and potential earnings in the Greater Houston region.
Job Entry Requirements. The College informs all students in this program who may have a criminal background that a criminal history could keep graduates from being licensed by the state of Texas. Students with any questions about their background and licensure may speak with the program’s department chair. This is in accordance with Texas House Bill 1508 amendments to Texas Occupations Code Sec 53.152.
Learning & Career Pathway
This learning pathway - a series of related and “stacked” certificates and degrees - includes the following awards. You can start at any point on the path and earn certificates on your way to completing the degree.
- Pharmacy Technician, Certificate of Technology (1 year)
- Health Science Pharmacy Technician Pathway, Associate of Applied Science (2 years)
Learning Outcomes and Career Skills
A student completing the last award in the pathway will be able to:
- Maintain confidentiality of patient information and understand applicable state and federal laws
- Apply and assess basic concepts of anatomy, physiology, pharmacology, and medical terminology relevant to function as a member of the healthcare team
- Perform mathematical calculations essential to the duties of pharmacy technicians in a variety of settings
- Analyze and transcribe prescription/medication orders to ensure accuracy and safety measures as per pharmacy practice standards
- Compound non-sterile and sterile medication per applicable USP chapters
- Manage drug product inventory stored in equipment/devices used to ensure the safety and accuracy of medication dispensing
- Exhibit interpersonal skills, including negotiation skills, conflict resolution, customer service, and teamwork within the healthcare setting
Program Accreditation
The Pharmacy Technician program at San Jacinto College is an advanced level training program that is accredited by the American Society of Health-System Pharmacists (ASHP) and the Accreditation Council for Pharmacy Education (ACPE). The program is also a Pharmacy Technician Certification Board (PTCB) recognized program. Students may learn more about the accreditation here:
American Society of Health System Pharmacists (ASHP)
4500 East-West Highway, Suite 900
Bethesda, MD 20814
301-657-3000
Licensure or Certification
Upon completion of the program, students are awarded an advanced-level Certificate of Technology. After graduation, students register to take the national certification exam. A pharmacy technician must pass the certification examination and register with the Texas State Board of Pharmacy to practice as a certified pharmacy technician in the state of Texas. The program includes two clinical courses. Clinicals are unpaid positions in which students are supervised by the employees at the clinical site.
External Learning Experiences
This program includes external learning experiences outside of the classroom, e.g., an internship, externship, clinical, practicum, or cooperative learning experience. Those experiences are typically on-site at a business or organization.
All students participating in external learning experiences are required to comply with the immunization requirements and policies of the external learning sites. Some learning sites outside the college have their own vaccination requirements. These rules come from those facilities and are not mandated by the college. Failure to meet those immunization requirements may limit a student’s ability to complete the program and/or may delay the student’s graduation date. San Jacinto College does not process exemptions, and students should address potential vaccination exemptions directly with the external learning site.
Locations
College Admission
San Jacinto College is an open admission institution. All students are welcome to apply and will be admitted to the College. You may begin the process on the College’s “How to Apply” webpage.
Program Admission
In addition to being admitted to the College, students must also be admitted to the Pharmacy Technician program which has additional requirements and/or steps.
Students may view admission procedures and program requirements on the Pharmacy Technician webpage.
Plan of Study
3HSC-PHAR
| First Term | Credits | |
|---|---|---|
| HPRS 1206 | Essentials of Medical Terminology | 2 |
| PHRA 1202 | Pharmacy Law | 2 |
| PHRA 1305 | Drug Classification | 3 |
| PHRA 1309 | Pharmaceutical Mathematics I | 3 |
| PHRA 1313 | Community Pharmacy Practice I | 3 |
| Credits | 13 | |
| Second Term | ||
| PHRA 1441 | Pharmacy Drug Therapy and Treatment | 4 |
| PHRA 1347 | Pharmaceutical Mathematics II | 3 |
| PHRA 1345 | Compounding Sterile Preparations and Aseptic Technique | 3 |
| PHRA 1349 | Institutional Pharmacy Practice | 3 |
| Credits | 13 | |
| Third Term | ||
| PHRA 1243 | Pharmacy Technician Certification Review | 2 |
| PHRA 1261 | Clinical-Pharmacy Technician I | 2 |
| PHRA 2261 | Clinical-Pharmacy Technician II | 2 |
| Credits | 6 | |
| Fourth Term | ||
| MATH 1314 | College Algebra | 3 |
| HIST 1301 | United States History I | 3 |
| ENGL 1301 | Composition I | 3 |
| Language, Philosophy and Culture (Humanities) or Creative Arts (Fine Arts) | 3 | |
| Select one of the following: | 3 | |
| Introduction to Speech Communication | ||
| Public Speaking | ||
| Interpersonal Communication | ||
| Business and Professional Communication | ||
| Credits | 15 | |
| Fifth Term | ||
| ENGL 1302 | Composition II | 3 |
| Select one of the following: | 4 | |
| Biology for Science Majors I (lecture) and Biology for Science Majors I (lab) | ||
| Anatomy and Physiology I (Lecture) and Anatomy and Physiology I (Lab) | ||
| PSYC 2301 | General Psychology | 3 |
| HIST 1302 | United States History II | 3 |
| Credits | 13 | |
| Total Credits | 60 | |
To be eligible for this degree, the student must have completed the Pharmacy Technician certificate program.
Students must earn a C or better in all Pharmacy (PHRA) and all science courses and maintain an overall cumulative GPA of at least 2.0 to remain in and/or graduate from the program.